The following is some exciting news from Anglican journalist David Virtue (www.virtueonline.org):
The leader of a reviving North American Anglicanism told some 400 Anglican Church planters that, "We have changed the subject in the discussions about Anglicanism in North America. We are reaching North America with the Good News of Jesus Christ by planting 1000 new churches. This is an extraordinary gathering of extraordinary people." Archbishop Robert Duncan said that in January 2012 some 200 new churches had been started with 35 more on the boards.
This week he welcomed these church planters, bishops, clergy, seminary leaders and lay leaders to the 3rd Annual Anglican 1000 Church Planting Summit on this week at Christ Church in Plano. Fifty percent of those in attendance admitted they had not been to a Church Planting Summit before. These church planters came from nearly every state and Canadian province. You can read stories about this event including an exclusive interview with the Rev. David Roseberry in today's digest.
These are exciting and heady days for these mostly young Anglican church planters. They are in the vanguard of the revival of Anglicanism in North America. Ironically, as Anglican churches grow, Episcopal churches are aging and closing. The average Episcopal congregation now has less than 70 members and the average age is in the low 60s. Interestingly enough, Christ Church, Plano, where the conference was held is a former TEC parish in the Diocese of Dallas and home to nearly 2,000 Anglicans who meet there each week. The rector, David Roseberry is not imbibing the Episcopal sexual Kool-Aid so his church continues to grow. His own church has planted five parishes in the area. His son runs one - Resurrection -- nearby.
